Olympia shortstop Nick Gordon was taken in the first round of the amateur baseball draft Thursday night. (Joshua C. Cruey, Orlando Sentinel)

Joe Williams, Orlando Sentinel

Moments after the Minnesota Twins selected Olympia shortstop Nick Gordon with the fifth overall pick in the first round of the baseball draft Thursday night, he sounded as if he had raced from first base to home plate.

The life-altering moment took away his breath.

“I couldn’t believe it when my name was called,” Gordon said from MLB Network’s Studio 42, site of the draft in Secaucus, N.J. “I honestly didn’t expect it. You can never expect having your name called.

“I am ready to be a Twin.”

Former DeLand right-hander Luke Weaver, a junior at Florida State, went 27th overall to the St. Louis Cardinals. That was one pick before First Academy left-hander Foster Griffin, an Ole Miss signee, was taken by the Kansas City Royals.

Orangewood Christian infielder Forrest Wall was the 35th overall selection by the Colorado Rockies. The Washington Nationals took University of Miami left-hander Andrew Suarez in the second round.

Gordon had signed to play at FSU. He was the highest selection from the Sentinel’s current coverage area since former Lake Brantley and Southern University (La.) infielder Rickie Weeks went No. 2 to the Milwaukee Brewers in 2003.

Former outfielder Mark Merchant is the highest area player taken directly out of high school. He was picked No. 2 overall by the Pittsburgh Pirates after his senior season at Oviedo in 1987.

Gordon is eligible for a signing bonus of up to $3.85 million from the Twins, according to Major League Baseball’s slotting system.

“His ability to play at a high level of competition and excel stands out to me,” Olympia coach Chuck Schall said. “It seems like the bigger the game, the better he performs. He has been under a microscope for so long.

“Every time he hits the field, he knows that scouts are watching him, but he has the ability to block that out and perform.”

Gordon’s father, Tom, pitched for 21 seasons in the majors, and his half-brother, Dee, plays second base for the Los Angeles Dodgers. Nick Gordon led the Titans, who reached the Class 8A region semifinals, with a .512 batting average with six home runs, 11 doubles and 28 RBIs.

“It feels really good,” said Gordon, the Sentinel’s all-area Player of the Year. “I am ready to join my family’s legacy, to be the third Gordon playing [pro] baseball.”

Weaver went 8-4 with a 2.62 ERA for the Seminoles this past season. He struck out 85 in 106 1/3 innings.

Griffin, a first-team, all-area selection, was 7-2 with a 1.10 ERA and struck out 101 in 68 innings.

The Miami Marlins picked Texas high school right-hander Tyler Kolek, who possesses a 102-mph fastball with the No. 2 pick. The Tampa Bay Rays selected first baseman Casey Gillaspie of Wichita State with the 20th overall pick.

The first two rounds were held Thursday night and not completed for this edition.

Rounds 3-10 are scheduled for Friday, with the remainder of the 40-round draft completed Saturday.